Sewing 101

My sewing machine skills are near non-existent.  When I was in high school I had the choice between Home Ec and Typing.  I took the typing because I figured it would be more beneficial than Home Ec when I got to college.  For the most part, I have been able to survive with only being able to hand sew any items that were necessary.  However, as I expand my crochet skills, I have also wanted to start doing some sewing of items, especially for doll clothes.  This would require that I use of a sewing machine.

I have a brand new 1979 White sewing machine that was given to me by my Aunt Shirley.  Aunt Shirley was a seamstress and apparently wanted to make sure I would have a sewing machine, so she bought one in 1979 and set it aside for me.  I know when it was purchased because the original bill of sale was inside the machine.  I can also tell you that it was brand new because all the original packing was still with the machine and case.  I had taken the machine out a few months ago and worked with it to try to thread it and finally break down and make the curtains I so desperately need for the house (and have had the fabric to make them for at least a year).  Try as I might, I could not get the bobbin to thread correctly, so I decided a sewing class may be in order. 

I have been very excited for several weeks now about the sewing class I signed up for.  The class is through Roanoke City Parks & Rec and held at the community center that is 1 block from my house.  I can't tell you the convenience of this, since it means I can run home and let the dogs out before leaving them again.  I'm sure they are appreciative that they only have to wait the requisite 10 hours between bathroom breaks instead of me trying to stretch it out to 13 hours.

The class was a steal at $25 for 4 2-hour sessions.  I have to say I was slightly disappointed after the first class though, because the description clearly stated the class would "teach you to use your sewing machine".  This is the #1 reason why I wanted to take the class. You can imagine my dismay when on the first day of class the instructor informed the class that we should already know how to use our own machines.

At the end of class, I explained that learning to use my machine was the reason I was/am taking the class and asked her to tell me how she suggested I figure out how to thread the bobbin.  She suggested that I take the machine to Alpine Sewing Machine to have it looked at.  I know this machine has never been used, so I was quite surprised when the man told me that my machine is out of timing.  I guess it can get that way without use for 30+ years.  I have not received the estimate on what it will cost to fix my poor "new" machine.

Our homework assignment was to find an "easy" pattern of a garment that we would like to make, buy the materials, read the pattern and cut out the pattern/fabric for the garment.  Right now JoAnn Fabric in Roanoke, VA is getting ready to move to a new and bigger store.  The good news for sewing enthusiasts is that all of the patterns at JoAnns are less than $2.  This is a giveway since patterns are generally as expensive as $15-$20 a piece.  So I did "stock" up on some cheap patterns for items I thought were easy and/or that I may want to one day try my hand at.  Then I started looking at fabric.  I have decided that one sews because they truly enjoy it, not because of any cost savings it provides.  Fabric is not cheap.  I did get very lucky on some lavendar linen fabric at close to $4/yd, but that is once again because the store is liqudating.  The other downside I foresee with sewing is that if you screw up - you're well....screwed.  It's not like crochet where you can rip it out and start over. 

I am hoping that my machine can be easily fixed and that I will be able to have it back and running correctly by our class next week.  I am still excited to learn some of the basics of sewing and finish at least one project by the end of the month.

Penny Pinching

Throughout this month I have read several posts, blogs and ramblings about New Year's resolutions.  I agree that January is a good time to review what has gone well in the past year and areas where I can improve, but the word resolution sounds so final - so resolute.  I prefer the word "goals."  I have made a couple goals for 2011.  The first is to exercise more often.  My new Wii Fit is helping tremendously with this goal and I am going steady at 20-30 minutes a day, 5 days a week.  The second is to have better control of my finances.  This includes monitoring my bank account balance for frequently (at least 2 times a month or every week instead of the once a month I am good for), pay bills on-time (I've signed up for a free ebill pay through my local credit union to help with this), and develop a budget that includes putting money aside for anticipated infrequent expenses (property taxes, license fees, oil changes, etc, etc).  This last one is where the penny pinching comes in.  After all is said and done, I need to save about $150/mo for the infrequent pile, which translates into "every penny of my money is accounted for each month."  There is no room for error and very little room for surprises.  And so I am looking for areas where I can decrease expenses.

I should first say that I feel like I have my monthly expenses down to a minimum.  I don't have cable TV and haven't for 10 years.  I shop cell phone rates with every expiration of my contract, as I also do with home phone and internet.  But I still pay student loans (the downside of going to a private college), have a car payment and like a little luxury in my life.  I have determine I "waste" most of my money on two things - eating out and yarn.  I have set a budget for the eating out  and yarn, that I think is reasonable.  But I still come up short with wiggle room in my budget. 

So this weekend's investigation turned to pre-paid cellular services.  I have had several conversations with friends about Wal-Mart's Straight Talk.  I have yet to hear anyone I know of complain about the coverage.  Then another friend suggested I also look at Boost Mobile.  After some brief research about coverage areas and such, these are the two providers I have narrowed it down to for my local area.  Straight Talk runs off of Verizon networks, which are very strong around here.  Boost Moblie runs off of Sprint networks, which I have mixed feelings about.  So why switch from a cellular plan to prepaid you ask?  Here are the reasons I have come up with:

• They are significantly cheaper than a contract plan.  For example - I am currently spending $79.53 after taxes and everything on my cell phone.  With Straight Talk, I would go to $45 ($34.53/mo in savings) and with Boost Mobile, I would go to $50 ($29.53/mp in savings).  Boost is also doing a customer loyalty program where your bill decreases by $5/mo for every 6 months of on-time payment for service, going as low as $35/mo. 
• I can get a phone almost identical to the one I carry now.  I currently have the LG UX-265.  Each network has a phone that is similar to this phone.  The cost is between $100 - $150 for the phone.  However, I paid $50 for the LG UX-265 AND I'd be saving money in the monthly bill, so I can afford to spend a little more on the phone. 
• Both run off of well known national networks. 
• I can actually INCREASE what I get in a cellular plan by having unlimited texts (I currently only have 250/mo) and unlimited web access (I currently have none). 

So I am thinking that this is not a bad route to go.  But I am going to throw out this question to the readers: Do you have one of these plans?  What kind of service coverage do you get?  Is this a good way to save some money? 

To other readers:  What other ways do you save money or control what money you do spend?

I look forward to your responses!

How we treat our animals should tell others how we will treat them

Today I read the story of Trooper from the Roanoke Angels of Assisi's blogspot (angelsofassisi.blogspot.com).  I was horrified by the images and description of what this dog has gone through.  I wanted to sign up to give him a forever home and show him what it was like to live a spoiled rotten life.  Unfortunately, the Morgan household is currently full with two vivacious Rotties that are definitely living the good life.  Thankfully, there is one kind family fostering him as he recovers and another kind family waiting enthusiastically in the wings to be his forever home.

I worry about what kind of society we have turned into that we would treat animals this way.  I don't care what species the animal was (a dog in this case) or what breed it was (a pit bull).  Since when do we think it's okay as a society to allow others to cause harm to animals?  And yet we do so every day.  Let's look for a second at how we treat our children.  In Roanoke (City), VA for FY 10 (which includes July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010) there were a total of 2,126 child abuse reports made to Child Protective Services (CPS).  Of those complaints, only 1,544 were accepted as valid complaints.  I can almost understand this number, since I know that CPS can only accept complaints against a caretaker.  How this may materialize as an unaccepted CPS compliant is that someone complains that the 19 year old neighbor was having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a 14 year old.  If the 19 year old was not babysitting or caring for the 14 year old, then this matter would be referred to the police and not handled by CPS.  But I digress.  Of the 1,544 complaints accepted, only 396 - or 26% - of those complaints were investigated.  And of the 396 investigated 211 - or 53% - were founded complaints.  A founded complaint means there was evidence that some type of abuse occurred.  If we use data from the City of Roanoke's website (http://www.roanokeva.gov/) about the number of youth we have in Roanoke under the age of 19, this means that 7 of every 100 youth have had a CPS compliant made on their behalf.  And for those of you who remember the local news from January 2010, we know that at least one of these cases resulted in the death of a child (http://www.roanoke.com/news/breaking/wb/234529). 

My goal here is not to slam our local department of Social Services.  I know many of these men and women and do not envy the job they have to do.  I know they are often restricted by the Commonwealth of Virginia's Code and the opinions of that code's interpretation as made by the Attorney General all the way down to local judges and lawyers.   The point I am trying to drive home is that this is how we allow our children to be treated.  I can point out similar statistics and data for our elderly and domestic violence.  But what can you do about abuse - whether animal abuse, domestic abuse, child abuse or elderly abuse?  I'm sure that others can come up with more suggestions than I can myself but here are some ideas.


Five ways to decrease (or stop) abuse in our society:

• If you suspect abuse, report it to the police.  If the police are not the correct agency to make the report to, they will tell you who you should call.
• Volunteer your time to a non-profit dealing that works with types of abuse you feel strongly about preventing.  This may mean walking dogs at the SPCA, tutoring or mentoring troubled youth, reading or playing games at a local nursing home, or donating items to the local battered women's shelter.
• Start a program that helps the population you would like to help.  Maybe you could start a clothing drive for the battered women's shelter,  hold a food drive for the homeless shelter or local animal shelter (statistics show stressors such as no housing or food increase both domestic violence and child abuse),  or an afterschool program for high risk kids.  The ideas are endless and may only indirectly help decrease types of abuse.
• Write a letter to your legislator about an issue or incident you are passionate about.  One letter may not make all the difference, but it is important we let those who represent us know what our feelings are and how we want to be represented.
• Educate yourself on abuse issues.  How prevalent is abuse in our society?  Who is most susceptible to abuse?  How can I decrease abuse in my own community?  What are the local organizations that help those who have been abused?

I often think that there are a lot of services out there that help these people, and why should I be the one who does something.  My tax dollars go to pay for all these social services, right?  And then I remember the look on my Madi's face (she is my youngest Rottie), when she was in so much pain and couldn't walk because she had blown both CCLs in her hind legs.  I remember that she wouldn't let the wonderful vets and techs at Virginia Tech Animal Hospital touch her if I wasn't in the room, because she didn't know if they would hurt her, but she knew I wouldn't let them hurt her in my presence.  And I know that the trust Madi has in me and the protection she now offers me without forethought wouldn't be there if I hadn't cared, nurtured, and loved her at her weakest moments.  So can each of us make a difference?  Yes, we can.  And what we do to help those weaker, less fortunate, or without a voice tells others how we will also treat them.  Actions do speak louder than words.